On
Syria, After US Airstrikes Here's
What Trump Said, & Russia
PR Said Just
Before

By Matthew
Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS,
April 6 – Just before US
airstrikes on Syria, the UN
Security Council ended its
Syria meeting past 8 pm on
April 6. After the strikes, US
President Donald Trump said,
"On Tuesday Syrian President
Bashar al Assad launched a
horrible chemical attack on
innocent civilians using a
deadly nerve agent. Assad
choked out the lives of
helpless men, women and
children. It was a slow and
brutal death for so many. Even
beautiful babies were cruelly
murdered at this very barbaric
attack. No child of God should
ever suffer such horror.
Tonight I ordered a targeted
military strike on the
airfield in Syria from where
the chemical attack was
launched. It is in this vital
national security interest of
the Untied States to prevent
and deter the spread and use
of deadly chemical weapons.
There can be no dispute that
Syria used banned chemical
weapons, violated its
obligations under the Chemical
Weapons Convention and ignored
the urging of the UN Security
Council. Numerous previous
attempts at changing Assad’s
behavior have all found and
failed very dramatically. As a
result, the refugee crisis
continues to deepen and the
region continues to
destabilize, threatening the
United States and its allies.
Tonight I call on all
civilized nations to join us
in seeking to end the
slaughter and bloodshed in
Syrian and also to end
terrorism of all kinds and all
types. We asked for God’s
wisdom as we face the
challenge of our very troubled
world. We pray for the lives
of the wounded and for the
souls of those who passed. And
we hope as long as America
stands for justice and peace
and harmony will in the end
prevail. Good night and God
Bless America and the entire
world."

Just
before, Russia's Ambassador
Vladimir Safronkov spoke, just
before the strikes, and said
as Google-translated: "There
are two concepts, one
American, the other Russian.
The Russian does not
understand the understanding
of our Hapad partners
The question is why? Although
I simply think that our draft
resolution has been drafted
professionally, it has
"nothing to cover"
We demand a quick dispatch of
the investigation mission, we
are saying that the
composition of this mission
should be geographically
balanced... This is not
accepted. And it's not a
secret, because how the
current fact-finding mission
works, namely, our Western
partners want to give
everything to us, does not
satisfy us at all.
In this mission, one group of
states is engaged, the mission
does not work in the main, it
draws information from sources
within the so-called "distance
tracing": the Internet, NGO
reports, including the famous
"white helmets" that helped
terrorists in eastern Aleppo.
This is now known to everyone,
even information in the
Western media appears on this
topic.

I will share with you that the
consultations left a
depressing impression.
Especially the appearance of
the US ambassador, I will say
this directly.
And yesterday at a meeting of
the Security Council, when we
discussed what had happened,
and today in consultations
with Russia there were
unpleasant statements that we
are covering the regime. It
has come down to us that we do
not cover the regime, but that
we are in the country at the
invitation of a legitimate
government and that we are
conducting an anti-terrorist
operation there. Therefore, if
there is a national point of
view, it should remain within
the national framework, and
not be presented as truth in
absolute authority.

We proceed from the fact that
there should be no
unreasonable charges. At the
beginning of the investigation
- then the conclusion, an
objective investigation,
impartial. We are told before
that we have already decided
that the American intelligence
community has established that
it was the Syrian armed forces
that fired upon Khan Sheikhun
with chemical-filled missiles.
If you have such intelligence
information, share it with us.
And our experts will consider.

We will review the
information, but we do not
forget that on April 5, 2003,
preparing the ground for the
war in Iraq, General Powell,
then the US Secretary of State
waved a test tube with
anthrax. Speaking of
intelligence about the rugiz
types of WMD which in Iraq
have never been found.

During yesterday's and today's
days, the Western trio talked
about whether we will put the
draft resolution to the vote
today. They said that it would
be inevitable, they announced
today that they do not put the
draft resolution to the vote.
While they do not have clarity
about the future work.
In any case, the pause is
correct, it will give an
opportunity to conduct
additional consultations in
the capitals and it will be
possible to reach an agreed
solution. For you, the
journalist is not a secret,
and for us, the workers of the
diplomatic front, it's not a
secret that all these
discussions in the Security
Council are taking place
against the backdrop of a real
information frenzy on the
preparation of a military
operation. We receive on this
topic and direct signals that
such a military operation is
being prepared. Moreover, it
surprises most of all that no
one asks about the possible
consequences.
Therefore, we now directly
told in consultations that the
authors of this kind of plans
need to think deeply, to see
what the military actions led
to in Iraq, Libya, and other
countries.
Warned that all possible
consequences will lie on the
conscience of those who are
planning such projects.

Developed by a dozen
non-permanent members of the
Security Council compromise
text, it will require careful
study in the capital, so this
pause helps us clarify our
positions

when? There is no clarity. Our
concerns and priorities have
been brought to the authors of
the Western project. Why they
reject our text raises very
serious questions. They are
trying through their project
to gain access throughout
Syria. This is unclear,
because the investigation must
be conducted at the crime
scene. Without going to the
crime scene, truth, of course,
can not be established.
(Missing part of the US
verdict court and absurdity)

... they blamed the seven
vetoes on Syria ...

"Well, of course applicable.
We are not ashamed of it. Why?
Because when in the Security
Council are draft resolutions
in order to give legitimacy to
their national geopolitical
terms, such decisions, we will
not miss, it is inevitable. We
have said that we are their
positions are developed on the
basis of mutual interests,
and, moreover, that the
stability of the Middle East
need to think seriously, and
this is very simple - you need
to realize the idea of a broad
anti-terrorist coalition and
generally sit in the Security
Council."

As he left
the UNSC, Uruguay's Ambassador
said, We never give up.
Sweden's Ambassador Olof
Skoog, who earlier hearkened
back to Hans Blix in 2003,
said we continue to work.
Source told Inner City Press
that Sweden's role has led to
push-back against it. In some
instances Sweden takes a line
such as on women's rights; in
others it backs down, as to
Morocco about Western Sahara,
after a threat to ban Ikea.
We'll see.

The vote on the
Syria chemical weapons deaths
was against postponed on the
evening April 6, according
first to a UK Mission
official, with now three
drafts in the mix. After the
deaths by chemical weapons in
Syria, an open UN Security
Council meeting was held on
April 5. On the way in,
Ambassadors including from the
UK, Sweden and France spoke, video
here. On April 6,
excluded from the process,
both the P3 and Russian drafts
below, Elected Ten members of
the Council met inside the
Council -- the glass door to
the stakeout was improperly
locked by the UN Secretariat
-- and afterward Inner City
Press reported
and talked with several. One
said the goal was to avoid a
veto; another said it was to
avoid exclusion from the
process after being elected to
the Security Council. Later,
after the door was opened,
Sweden's Olof Skoog said, "I
was here with Hans Blix in
2003, of course I'm worried."
Inner City Press looped
video here, YouTube here. Others distinguish the two
cases. Here is the E10 draft,
which largely drops Operative
Paragraph 5 and its content:
"Recalling the Protocol for
the Prohibition of the Use in
War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous
or other Gases, and of
Bacteriological Methods of
Warfare, and the Convention on
the Prohibition of the
Development, Production,
Stockpiling and Use of
Chemical Weapons and on their
Destruction (CWC) ratified by
the Syrian Arab Republic on 14
September 2013, and the
Council’s resolutions 1540
(2004), 2118 (2013), 2209
(2015), 2235 (2015), 2314
(2016), and 2319 (2016),
Expressing its horror at the
reported use of chemical
weapons in the Khan Shaykhun
area of southern Idlib in the
Syrian Arab Republic on 4
April 2017 causing large-scale
loss of life and injuries,
affirming that the use of
chemical weapons constitutes a
serious violation of
international law, and
stressing that those
responsible for any use of
chemical weapons must be held
accountable,
Noting the Organization for
the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons (OPCW) has announced,
in addition to its ongoing
investigation, that its Fact
Finding Mission (FFM) is in
the process of gathering and
analyzing information on this
incident from all available
sources and will report to the
OPCW Executive Council,
Recalling that in resolution
2118 (2013) the Council
decided that the Syrian Arab
Republic shall not use,
develop, produce, otherwise
acquire, stockpile or retain
chemical weapons or transfer,
directly or indirectly,
chemical weapons, to other
States or non-State actors and
underscored that no party in
Syria should use, develop
produce acquire, stockpile,
retain or transfer chemical
weapons,
Recalling its determination
that the use of chemical
weapons in the Syria Arab
Republic represents a threat
to international peace and
security,
1. Condemns in the strongest
terms the reported use of
chemical weapons in the Syrian
Arab Republic, in particular
the attack on Khan Shaykhun
reported on 4 April 2017,
expresses its outrage that
individuals continue to be
killed and injured by chemical
weapons in the Syrian Arab
Republic, and expresses its
determination that those
responsible must be held
accountable;
2. Expresses its full support
to the OPCW Fact Finding
Mission, demands that all
parties provide delay-free and
safe access to any sites
deemed relevant by the OPCW
FFM, and, as applicable, by
the JIM, to the reported
incident in Khan Shaykhun in
accordance with resolution
2118, and requests that the
FFM report the results of its
investigation as soon as
possible;
3. Requests that the Secretary
General make the necessary
arrangements for the UN-OPCW
Joint Investigative Mechanism
to liaise closely with the
Fact Finding Mission to
expeditiously investigate any
incident the FFM determines
involved or likely involved
the use of chemicals as
weapons in order to identify
those involved in accordance
with the provisions of
paragraph 5 of its Resolution
2235;
4. Recalls that in its
resolutions 2118 and 2235 it
decided that the Syrian Arab
Republic and all parties in
Syria shall cooperate fully
with the OPCW and the United
Nations including the Joint
Investigation Mechanism;
5. Emphasizes that this
includes the obligation upon
the Syrian Arab Republic of
complying with their relevant
recommendations, by accepting
personnel designated by the
OPCW or the United Nations, by
providing for and ensuring the
security of activities
undertaken by these personnel,
by providing these personnel
with immediate and unfettered
access to and the right to
inspect, in discharging their
functions, any and all sites,
and by allowing immediate and
unfettered access to
individuals that the OPCW has
grounds to believe to be of
importance for the purpose of
its mandate, and decides that
all parties in Syria shall
cooperate fully in this
regard; [op. 7 of op. 2118]
6. Requests the
Secretary-General to report on
whether the information and
access described in paragraph
5 has been provided in his
reports to the Security
Council every 30 days pursuant
to paragraph 12 of resolution
2118.
7. Recalls its decision in
response to violations of
resolution 2118 to impose
measures under Chapter VII of
the United Nations charter. "

Again,
Operative Paragraph 5 is out.
But here's the Russian draft,
with as telegraphed "balanced
geographical
representation,"
here: "Recalling
the Protocol for the
Prohibition of the Use in War
of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or
other Gases, and of
Bacteriological Methods of
Warfare, and the Convention on
the Prohibition of the
Development, Production,
Stockpiling and Use of
Chemical Weapons and on their
Destruction (CWC) ratified by
the Syrian Arab Republic on 14
September 2013, and the
Council's resolutions 1540
(2004), 2118 (2013), 2209
(2015), 2235 (2015), 2314
(2016), and 2319 (2016),
Expressing its
deep concern regarding the
alleged incident with the
chemical weapons in the Khan
Shaykhun area of southern
Idlib in the Syrian Arab
Republic on 4 April 2017
reportedly causing large-scale
loss of life and injuries,
affirming that the use of
chemical weapons constitutes a
serious violation of
international law, and
stressing that those
responsible for any use of
chemical weapons must be held
accountable,
Recalling that in
resolution 2118 (2013) the
Council decided that the
Syrian Arab Republic shall not
use, develop, produce,
otherwise acquire, stockpile
or retain chemical weapons or
transfer, directly or
indirectly, chemical weapons,
to other States or non-State
actors and underscored that no
party in Syria should use,
develop, produce, acquire,
stockpile, retain or transfer
chemical weapons,
1.Requests the
joint FFM and the JIM
investigative team to visit as
soon as possible the site of
the alleged incident in Khan
Shaykhun and adjacent
territories to conduct
full-scale investigation using
the whole spectrum of relevant
methods, including the
alternative information
collection efforts and
investigative skills, as was
strongly recommended for such
cases in the 4th and 5th JIM’s
reports (para. 49 and para .
11 respectively).
2. Demands all parties
in the Syrian Arab Republic to
secure in accordance with the
resolution 2118 (2013) without
any delay free and safe access
for the joint FFM and JIM team
to the site of the incident
and adjacent areas;
3. Requests the
Director-General of the OPCW
Technical Secretariat and the
head of the OPCW-UN Joint
Investigative Mechanism (JIM)
to forward through the United
Nations Secretary-General to
the Council for its
consideration their proposals
on the personal composition of
the joint team to be
dispatched to the Idlib
Governorate of the Syrian Arab
Republic based on the
principle of a broad-based and
balanced geographical
representation;
4. Decides that the
report of the joint FFM and
JIM team should include all
the evidences collected at the
site of the incident and be
provided to the Council for
consideration;
5. Decides to
remain actively seized of the
matter."

Earlier on April
6, a finalized draft had "gone
into blue," with the sponsors
saying there'll be a vote
later in the day, after a 4:30
pm Peacekeeping review
session, at around 7 pm. But
Russia has requested another
consultation, at 3 pm. Here's
where is stands: "Recalling
the Protocol for the
Prohibition of the Use in War
of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or
other Gases, and of
Bacteriological Methods of
Warfare, and the Convention on
the Prohibition of the
Development, Production,
Stockpiling and Use of
Chemical Weapons and on their
Destruction (CWC) ratified by
the Syrian Arab Republic on 14
September 2013, and the
Council’s resolutions 1540
(2004), 2118 (2013), 2209
(2015), 2235 (2015), 2314
(2016), and 2319 (2016),
Expressing its horror at the
reported use of chemical
weapons in the Khan Shaykhun
area of southern Idlib in the
Syrian Arab Republic on 4
April 2017 causing large-scale
loss of life and injuries,
affirming that the use of
chemical weapons constitutes a
serious violation of
international law, and
stressing that those
responsible for any use of
chemical weapons must be held
accountable,
Noting the Organization for
the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons (OPCW) has announced,
in addition to its ongoing
investigation, that its Fact
Finding Mission (FFM) is in
the process of gathering and
analyzing information on this
incident from all available
sources and will report to the
OPCW Executive Council,
Recalling that in resolution
2118 (2013) the Council
decided that the Syrian Arab
Republic shall not use,
develop, produce, otherwise
acquire, stockpile or retain
chemical weapons or transfer,
directly or indirectly,
chemical weapons, to other
States or non-State actors and
underscored that no party in
Syria should use, develop
produce acquire, stockpile,
retain or transfer chemical
weapons,
Recalling its determination
that the use of chemical
weapons in the Syria Arab
Republic represents a threat
to international peace and
security,

1. Condemns in the strongest
terms the reported use of
chemical weapons in the Syrian
Arab Republic, in particular
the attack on Khan Shaykhun
reported on 4 April 2017,
expresses its outrage that
individuals continue to be
killed and injured by chemical
weapons in the Syrian Arab
Republic, and expresses its
determination that those
responsible must be held
accountable;
2. Expresses its full support
to the OPCW Fact Finding
Mission, demands that all
parties provide delay-free and
safe access to any sites
deemed relevant by the OPCW
FFM, and, as applicable, by
the JIM, to the reported
incident in Khan Shaykhun in
accordance with resolution
2118, and requests that the
FFM report the results of its
investigation as soon as
possible;
3. Requests that the Secretary
General make the necessary
arrangements for the UN-OPCW
Joint Investigative Mechanism
to liaise closely with the
Fact Finding Mission to
expeditiously investigate any
incident the FFM determines
involved or likely involved
the use of chemicals as
weapons in order to identify
those involved in accordance
with the provisions of
paragraph 5 of its Resolution
2235;
4. Recalls that in its
resolutions 2118 and 2235 it
decided that the Syrian Arab
Republic and all parties in
Syria shall cooperate fully
with the OPCW and the United
Nations including the Joint
Investigation Mechanism;
5. Emphasizes that this
includes the obligation upon
the Syrian Arab Republic to
provide the JIM and FFM with
the following and take the
following steps:
(a) flight plans, flight logs,
and any other information on
air operations, including all
flight plans or flight logs
filed on April 4 2017;
(b) names of all individuals
in command of any helicopter
squadrons;
(c) arrange meetings requested
including with generals or
other officers, within no more
than five days of the date on
which such meeting is
requested;
(d) immediately provide access
to relevant air bases from
which the JIM or the FFM
believe attacks involving
chemicals as weapons may have
been launched
6. Requests the
Secretary-General to report on
whether the information and
access described in paragraph
5 has been provided in his
reports to the Security
Council every 30 days pursuant
to paragraph 12 of resolution
2118.
7. Recalls its decision in
response to violations of
resolution 2118 to impose
measures under Chapter VII of
the United Nations charter."
At the April 5 meeting, no
vote was taken on the "P-3"
draft resolution, which Inner
City Press published below.
Russia in the meeting
identified things that would
"have" to go in any draft they
would agree to, including a
geographic balance in
investigators. Then US
Ambassador Nikki Haley spoke,
fast-transcribed below by
Inner City Press, after two
paragraphs from the Mission:
"“There is an obvious truth
here that must be spoken. The
truth is that Assad, Russia,
and Iran have no interest in
peace. The illegitimate Syrian
government, led by a man with
no conscience, has committed
untold atrocities against his
people for more than six
years. Assad has made it clear
that he doesn’t want to take
part in a meaningful political
process. Iran has reinforced
Assad’s military, and Russia
has shielded Assad from UN
sanctions. If Russia has the
influence in Syria that it
claims to have, we need to see
them use it. We need to see
them put an end to these
horrific acts. How many more
children have to die before
Russia cares?...“When the
United Nations consistently
fails in its duty to act
collectively, there are times
in the life of states that we
are compelled to take our own
action. For the sake of the
victims, I hope the rest of
the Council is finally willing
to do the same.”

Inner City Press
fast transcription: "In the
life of the UN there are times
we are compelled to do more
than just talk….

Yesterday’s attack bears all
the hallmarks of the Assad
regime’s use of chemical
weapons. We know that
yesterday’s attack was a new
low, even for the barbaric
Assad regime.
Evidence…indicates Assad is
using even more lethal
chemicals than before…leaving
men, women, the elderly and
children gasping for their
very last breath. As docs and
nurses rushed to help, a
second round of bombs rained
down.

Just a few weeks ago…Russia
chose to close their eyes to
the barbarity. Russia cannot
escape responsibility for
this. If Russia had been
fulfilling its
responsibilities, there
wouldn’t be any chemical
weapons left for the Assad
regime to use.

If nothing is done these
attacks will continue.

We regularly repeat
tired talking points in
support of a peace
process….Russia uses the same
false narrative to deflect
attention from their allies in
Damascus…Russia attempts to
place blame on others….Assad,
Russia and Iran have no
interest in peace. The
illegitimate Syrian gov…has
committed untold atrocities
for more than 6 years.

Iran has reinforced Assad’s
military, and Russia has
shielded Assad from UN
sanctions. If Russia has the
influence in Syria that it
claims to have, we need to see
them use it. How many more
children need to die before
Russia cares?

If we are not able to enforce
resolutions preventing the use
of chemical weapons, what does
that say for our chances to
end the Syrian conflict?

When the UN consistently fails
in its duty, there are times
we are compelled to take our
own action. For the sake of
the victims, I hope the rest
of the Council is ready to do
the same. The world needs to
see the effect of chemical
weapons and the fact that they
will not be tolerated."

Also in
the meeting, Uruguay's
Ambassador quoted Marlon
Brando, "The horror, the
horror." Back on April 4, the
Ambassadors of the UK then
Sweden called for an emergency
Council meeting. Inner City
Press video
here. With the meeting
then set for April 5, the
night before the United
States, UK and France
circulated a draft resolution:
"Recalling the Protocol for
the Prohibition of the Use in
War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous
or other Gases, and of
Bacteriological Methods of
Warfare, and the Convention on
the Prohibition of the
Development, Production,
Stockpiling and Use of
Chemical Weapons and on their
Destruction (CWC) ratified by
the Syrian Arab Republic on 14
September 2013, and the
Council’s resolutions 1540
(2004), 2118 (2013), 2209
(2015), 2235 (2015), 2314
(2016), and 2319 (2016),

Expressing its horror at
the reported use of chemical
weapons in the Khan Shaykhun
area of southern Idlib in the
Syrian Arab Republic on 4
April 2017 causing large-scale
loss of life and injuries,
affirming that the use of
chemical weapons constitutes a
serious violation of
international law, and
stressing that those
responsible for any use of
chemical weapons must be held
accountable,

Noting the Organization for
the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons (OPCW) has announced,
in addition to its ongoing
investigation, that its Fact
Finding Mission (FFM) is in
the process of gathering and
analysing information on this
incident from all available
sources and will report to the
OPCW Executive Council,

Recalling that in
resolution 2118 (2013) the
Council decided that the
Syrian Arab Republic shall not
use, develop, produce,
otherwise acquire, stockpile
or retain chemical weapons or
transfer, directly or
indirectly, chemical weapons,
to other States or non-State
actors and underscored that no
party in Syria should use,
develop produce acquire,
stockpile, retain or transfer
chemical weapons,

Determining that the use
of chemical weapons in the
Syria Arab Republic represents
a threat to international
peace and security,

1. Condemns in the strongest
terms and use of chemical
weapons in the Syrian Arab
Republic, in particular the
attack on Khan Shaykhun
reported on 4 April 2017,
expresses its outrage that
individuals continue to be
killed and injured by chemical
weapons in the Syrian Arab
Republic, and expresses its
determination that those
responsible must be held
accountable;

2. Expresses its full
support to the OPCW Fact
Finding Mission investigation
and requests that it report
the results of its
investigation as soon as
possible;

3. Recalls paragraph 9
of resolution 2235 (2015),
which requested the FFM to
collaborate with the JIM to
provide full access to all the
information and evidence
obtained or prepared by the
FFM, and stresses that the JIM
should begin to fulfill its
mandate alongside the FFM as
it seeks to determine whether
the incident on April 4 2017
involved the use of chemicals
as weapons;

4. Recalls that in its
resolutions 2118 and 2235 it
decided that the Syrian Arab
Republic and all parties in
Syria shall cooperate fully
with the OPCW and the United
Nations including the Joint
Investigation Mechanism;

5. Emphasizes that this
includes the obligation upon
the Syrian Arab Republic to
provide the JIM and FFM with
the following:
(a) flight plans, flight
logs, and any other
information on air operations,
including all flight plans or
flight logs filed on April 4
2017;
(b) names of all
individuals in command of any
helicopter squadrons;
(c) arrange meetings
requested including with
generals or other officers,
within no more than five days
of the date on which such
meeting is requested;
(d) immediately provide
access to relevant air bases
from which the JIM or the FFM
believe attacks involving
chemicals as weapons may have
been launched

6. Requests the
Secretary-General to report on
whether the information and
access described in paragraph
5 has been provided in his
reports to the Security
Council every 30 days pursuant
to paragraph 12 of resolution
2118.

7. Recalls its decision
in response to violations of
resolution 2118 to impose
measures under Chapter VII of
the United Nations charter."
Inner City Press will cover
the meeting(s).

As
de Mistura trudges on with a
short term UN extension, he
did not say if he is applying
to head the UN Development
Program, and thus to move on
from his Syria post. Inner
City Press first
reported that - and the
interest of Sigrid
Kaag, who blocks Inner
City Press on Twitter, deemed
fine by the UN's
holdover Deputy Spokesman
Farhan Haq.

On March 8,
before the US' April
presidency of the Security
Council, US Ambassador Nikki
Haley was asked of Iran
involvement in talks. She
paused, then said there are
some not at the table who
should be. Watch this site.

In Geneva for
the Syria talks as in New
York, the UN made a point of
telling those with "temporary
accreditation" that they could
not get into the building
after 7 pm, even with a
stakeout scheduled for 6:30
pm. The Free
UN Coalition for Access
(FUNCA)
objects to the UN's two-tier
system for correspondents,
which in New York meant for
example that Inner City Press
which covered Peru's
President's meeting with
Antonio Guterres was Banned
from the area of the UN where
he spoke to the media
afterward. (But see this
Periscope). Ban
Censorship in 2017.

Even before
February 25, multiple UN
sources sounded a dissonant
note to Inner City Press.

As
exclusively reported
February 2, the sources had
told Inner City Press that de
Mistura is in fact angling to
replace Helen Clark atop the
UN Development Program or
UNDP. (The UN Spokesperson's
office, as usual, is in
untransparent denial mode.
Also in the mix are, among
others, David Miliband, Segolene
Royal and Bert Koenders - or
even Sigrid "The Blocker" Kaag).

Inner City
Press first reported from its
sources that seeking to
replace de Mistura as UN Syria
envoy is Sigrid Kaag, long
time envoy in Lebanon. (We'd
ask Kaag to confirm or deny,
but again it turns out Kaag blocks
Inner City Press on Twitter, click
here to view: strange,
for a publicly paid UN
official.) We'll have more on
this.

When de Mistura
took questions on January 31,
Inner City Press asked him
among other things if the
Trump administration's
proposal for safe zones in
Syria (and Yemen) had been
discussed. Video here.

No, de
Mistura said, US Ambassador to
the UN Nikki Haley hadn't
raised it. Some wondered if
that reflects the irrelevance
to which the UN has sunk.
We'll see.

***

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